This discussion got me thinking about dances which have both a Gents RH chain and Ladies LH chain. I wasn't sure if any existed, so I wrote a few. I have no idea when I would ever call them, but it was a fun exercise :)
On a somewhat related note, I appear to have a thing for writing Becket dances, but I'm proud to say that none of these start with "Circle Left 3 places". In fact, they don't have any circles in them, so they can also help with the "dances without a circle left" campaign.
That's Not How We Do ItContra, BECKET, by Rona Wiener, Jan 2016
A1 (4) Balance the Ring (4) Gents Roll away P along set (8) Gents RIGHT HAND chain [To N] A2 (8) Gents [Gypsy] x1 (8) Neighbor Swing B1 (4) Balance the Ring (4) Ladies Roll away N along set (8) Ladies LEFT HAND chain [to P] B2 (8) On Right Diagonal Half a hey [Ladies lead by L] (8) Partner Swing
Slightly Less Wrong
Contra, BECKET, by Rona Wiener, Jan 2016
A1 (4) Balance the Ring (4) Spin R (as in Petronella), face NN (4) Balance the Ring (4) Spin R A2 (8) Star L x 1 [hands across, gents drop out] (8) Ladies LEFT HAND chain [to N] B1 (8) Star R x 1 [hands across, ladies drop out] (8) Gents RIGHT HAND chain [To P] B2 (4) Pass Through (12) Partner Swing
Double NegativeContra, BECKET, by Rona Wiener, Jan 2016
[Starts on side with P, Gents on R] A1 (8) Star R x 1 [hands across, ladies drop out] (8) Gents RIGHT HAND chain [To N] A2 (8) Star L x 1 [hands across, gents drop out] (8) Ladies LEFT HAND chain [to P] B1 (8) Half a hey [Ladies lead by L] (8) Partner Swing B2 (8) Right and Left Through (8) Pass Through, Single File Promenade along the set to NN
On Wednesday, January 20, 2016 10:17 PM, Alexandra Deis-Lauby via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
I think I just danced one in CDH which both chains. But I can't remember who was chaining when because I was swapping anyway. But if anyone else was there and remembers...
On Sun, Jan 17, 2016 at 7:11 PM, Ron Blechner via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Anyone know any contras with gents chaining from right-hand position? I have four I wrote on the plane, and I don't think I've ever danced one. And considering the ro swapping I encounter at many of my gigs, maybe it's time I start calling them sometime.I know there's one by Gene Hubert where ladies chain, are rolled away with 1/2 sashay, and gents are right-hand chained from the right. Notes for that appreciated. I'd like dances where gents are doing a regular right hand chain.I'm not talking about "Gents chain", which is from the Left-hand side. For that matter, I want to make it clear that "gents chain" is named poorly. I called "gents, left-hand chain" the other night in Greenfield and it required less explanation than when I've called/taught it as "gents chain". But I digress.Thanks!
Ron Blechner
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Darwin,
Here are a few thoughts:
Besides working on mic technique, pay attention to enunciation.
Somecallerstendtoruntheirwordstogetheranditmakesthemimeanthecallerswellactuallyboththewordsandthcallerswhosaythosewordshardtounderstand.
I'm not saying that you should hyper-enunciate to the point of
sounding stilted, but if you want to be understood in spite of
room reverberation and competing sounds (crowd noise, music,
electric fans) a little hyper-enunciation can help.
One way to check yourself on enunciation (and more) is to make
a recording from the back of the hall and force yourself to
listen to it.
If you're a guest caller at someone else's dance, politely let
the sound tech know that your voice may be different from the
main caller's, and ask for whatever help (s)he can give to make
sure you're intelligible.
Try to arrive early at the gig so that you and the sound tech
can have a few minutes to experiment with what equalization
and what mic position work best for you (e.g., what's not too
close, but not too far), at a time when dancers aren't waiting
for a walk-thru to start.
If you don't 100% trust the sound tech to give ample priority
to caller intelligibility--and maybe even if you do--enlist a
trusted friend who can offer feedback during your sound check
and who can call problems to your attention while there's time
to do something about them, instead of after the dance is over.
I agree with those who have recommended speaking along the axis
of the mic. While there are people who have learned to get good
results with the ice-cream-cone style of mic hold, it's easier
for most of us if we point our mouth at the mic and point the
mic at our mouth. Keep the mic fairly close, but not to the
point of "eating" it.
As for overpowering the mic, I doubt that you would actually
be speaking loudly enough to force the mic element to the
extremes of its travel. It is possible that the first stage of
amplification (usually controlled, on analog mixers, by a knob
at the top of your mic channel labeled "sensitivity", "gain",
or "trim") could be set too high, resulting in clipping, which
could make you sound loud, horrible, and unintelligible all at
once. A competent sound tech will know how to set the gain
structure to avoid this. If the sound tech is a turf-conscious
clown, then you have a problem, but you won't solve it by trying
to offer advice based on stuff you read on an internet mailing
list while you yourself are inexpert.
You wrote:
> ... the sound guy was sitting there and I'm sure would have done something ...
If the sound board is near the stage, the sound tech can easily
be unaware of a problem until (s)he stands up and walks to the
middle or the back of the hall. Assuming the sound tech isn't
a turf-conscious clown, a request to "please check that I'm
intelligible in the back of the hall" can be part of the same
kind of polite conversation as "my voice may be different from
the main caller ...".
Good luck.
--Jim
> On May 18, 2016, at 7:09 PM, Darwin Gregory via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> I am a new caller, and I have called two dances. The first, I completely blew the microphone part. Since then, I practiced holding the mic close to my mouth like was suggested to me.
>
> The second dnce, I was told that my voice was too deep for the microphone, and I was overpowering it. It was suggested that I hold the microphone further away and project, which I tried, but again, not something I practiced.
>
> Someone afterwards suggested that it could have been dealt with by the sound board. Although, the sound guy was sitting there and I'm sure would have done something if it would have helped.
>
> So, any advice? Is there a particular mic or mic type that is good for deep voices? Any techniques to practice? Sound guy/gal need to be on the ball?
>
> Any advice welcome.
>
> ... Darwin
>
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Don,
I confess. It was me. Probably let it run too long, but the band was so
hot.
Come and join us w/ great locals Amy Larkin & Ben Foss, if you're in the
area Jun 15, 7 PM. Sorry, couldn't help it, but it is a nice floor and has
AC.
On Sat, Jun 4, 2016 at 12:22 AM, Don Veino via Callers <
callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> Caller is Paul Wilde, I believe.
>
> -Don
>
> On Sat, Jun 4, 2016 at 12:12 AM, Chet Gray via Callers <
> callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> Gallimaufry at Sandywoods (I don't know the caller):
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqhxqdRsuSs . The drone of a (giant)
>> hurdy-gurdy lends itself well to a rolling start.
>>
>
Caller is Paul Wilde, I believe.
-Don
On Sat, Jun 4, 2016 at 12:12 AM, Chet Gray via Callers <
callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> Gallimaufry at Sandywoods (I don't know the caller):
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqhxqdRsuSs . The drone of a (giant)
> hurdy-gurdy lends itself well to a rolling start.
>
>
Gallimaufry at Sandywoods (I don't know the caller):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqhxqdRsuSs . The drone of a (giant)
hurdy-gurdy lends itself well to a rolling start.
I recall seeing one of Nils Fredland and Elixir, but I haven't been able to
find it again.
Any others out there? This is something I have been keeping an eye out for,
as well.
On Mon, Apr 4, 2016 at 8:27 AM, Tepfer, Seth via Callers <
callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> Are there any videos out there of band/callers doing rolling starts or
> musical walk thrus?
>
>
> Seth Tepfer
> Director of Administrative Computing
> Oxford College
> 770-784-8487
> seth.tepfer(a)emory.edu
>
> Use AskIT for fastest response: Oxford.emory.edu/AskIT
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>
>>
>>
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Hi, Jack - Yes, indeed. The dance is "Vallimont's Silver Hammer" by Luke
Donforth. Luke shared it on Shared Weight recently.
If the video you're talking about is
https://www.facebook.com/DuganMurphyContraDanceCaller/videos/10367957730752…,
that's me!
Dugan Murphy
dugan(a)duganmurphy.com
> Date: Thu, 02 Jun 2016 22:30:01 +0000
> From: Jack Mitchell via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
> To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: [Callers] ID This dance? Square thru, shadow DsD
> Message-ID:
> <
> CAP+XMj40fp4XDMRt1FyBYO5Pr6RKfXKQRvxaY_xh_O-8UcZNYA(a)mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> Spotted on a video earlier today.....
>
> A1 Circle L 3/4, N Sw
> A2 N Promenade, Ladies Chain
> B1 RH to N balace, N pull by R, Partner pull by L; Shadow DsD
> B2 P B&S
>
> --
> Jack Mitchell
> Durham, NC
>
Hi Callers,
I’m booked to call a dance this Saturday; the temperature is predicted to be 98F. This is an unusually hightemperature for the area and time of year- this organization does not hold summerdances.
I’ve emailed the organizers asking for their thoughts/contingency plans.My first priority is keeping the dancers safe.
While I’m waiting to hear back from them, I’m brainstormingideas for how to make a hot weather dance a safe and fun experience (presumingit isn’t cancelled due to heat).
Here’s what I’ve come up with generally:
-Remind dancers to take time to hydrate/change shirts etcrather than rushing to maximize the number of dances called.
-Offer ice/popsicles at the break.
And specifically as a caller:
-Run dances shorter.
-Moderate band tempo
-Select dances where ladies/gents/ones/twos/first corners/second corners get “solos.” Thehall tends to consist of two long lines, so I imagine that I might want to makeshorter lines if I call something uneven.
-Avoid butterfly whirls
-Walk all dances, but avoid unnecessarily long walk-throughs.
Other thoughts? Are there figures that tend to take lessenergy? I’m imaging that sequential balances are less tiring than full heys,but I’m not certain of this.
Also, suggestions for interesting dances with more recoverytime?
A dance that comes to mind is Tecumseh (Dylan Bustin).
Thanks!
Lindsey
(Tacoma, WA)
I believe it's Luke Donforth's "Vallimont's Silver Hammer".
On Jun 2, 2016 6:30 PM, "Jack Mitchell via Callers" <
callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> Spotted on a video earlier today.....
>
> A1 Circle L 3/4, N Sw
> A2 N Promenade, Ladies Chain
> B1 RH to N balace, N pull by R, Partner pull by L; Shadow DsD
> B2 P B&S
>
> --
> Jack Mitchell
> Durham, NC
>
> _______________________________________________
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> Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>
>
Spotted on a video earlier today.....
A1 Circle L 3/4, N Sw
A2 N Promenade, Ladies Chain
B1 RH to N balace, N pull by R, Partner pull by L; Shadow DsD
B2 P B&S
--
Jack Mitchell
Durham, NC